Workout Wednesday is my favorite for many reasons. It means it’s my double workout day, it means we’re officially halfway through the week and interestingly enough, it means tomorrow is Full Body day. That didn’t use to excite me the way it does now. Now it means I’m one night’s sleep away from kicking my butt in a hard bike + weight combo routine and then crushing my core. I’ve been looking forward to these sort of ‘mixed up’ workouts. They keep me guessing, which despite my OCD-nature, I am loving.

Long Sleeve (size 6) / Leggings (size 2)

Top 3 Questions of the Week

At what point (temperature, wind, etc.) do you stop running outside? Tips on forcing yourself out the door when it’s cold…

Honestly, for me it’s less about the temp and wind and more about the ground. I don’t do ice. Nope. Not messing with that crap. Typically any single digit temperatures will keep me inside, but if it’s 9* with absolutely no wind then you’ll find me on the trail. On the opposite side of that, if it’s 34* but the wind is 30mph+ out of the NW…you can come say hi to me in the basement. I rarely struggle to keep my core warm so I feel like I can handle pretty chilly weather. It’s covering my face/ears properly while still allowing me to see & hear safely that’s more an issue. THIS headband (in olive) is one of my newest buys and it’s great until about a 25* wind chill. Then I need something more. As for tips on staying off the treadmill as long as possible…these 3 are my biggest suggestions:

Acclimate. Start off running shorter periods of time, try to run in cooler temps with the wind behind you instead of directly in your face, run later in the day if possible. Don’t expect your lungs to adapt immediately. Give them time and grace.
Adjust your pace. SLOW DOWN. Your lungs and body deserve it. Breathing in the bitter cold, winter air isn’t easy. Slowing down will help your breath.
Dress accordingly. Layer, layer, layer. You can always take off but once you start down your path, it’s nearly impossible to add on. Invest in a neck warmer or a top like this one from Athleta that has a built-in neck warmer and hat option. I also linked some great cold weather running pieces in THIS BLOG POST a few weeks ago as well!

Do you miss working out in an actual gym? Will you ever go back?

Yes. All the time. Especially on Mondays. Leg day has been VERY difficult at home. My wrists are pretty weak and I need our heaviest dumbbell options for leg day, meaning my wrists suffer. In the gym, I did mostly barbell work for leg days so my wrists never had an issue. It sucks! I miss the variety of weights options and the ‘commercial grade’ products. A home gym bench has nothing on a commercial one. Definitely miss having a pull up bar, too. Luckily the squat rack we end up buying will have one, so I know that’ll eventually be something I get to utilize again. Will I ever go back? Maybe. I would say yes, but I have no idea how long it’ll be until we’re allowed back into the high school weight room. By that time, our basement might be finished. And our basement is going to be outfitted with literally everything so there will be no need to GO to a gym at that point.

Sports Bra (size small) / Biker Shorts (size 4)

Next fitness-related purchase? What is on your wish list?

Heavier dumbbells or a heavy kettlebell (or 2). That is what is up next. Currently debating on a 44lb or 53lb kettlbell and then random, but I need a set of 12.5lb dumbbells as well. There are a few things like flys that 10s aren’t quite enough but 15s are a bit too much. What’s on my wish list? Well that’s a verrry long list. Things to make Workout Wednesday even more fun, obviously! 😉 But it includes things like: squat rack, new bench, TRX set, dumbbell rack, 2 slam balls, 2 boxes and an ab dolly.

Workout Wednesday Workout of the Week

FULL BODY + CARDIO

What you’ll *ideally* need – 1 heavy dumbbell, 1 set of medium-weight dumbbells, 1 set of lighter weight dumbbells. Need to make it a little easier? Drop your weights and take the circuits down to 2-3 rounds/each. Harder? Tack an additional AMRAP on in between the 2 circuits!